172 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[May, 
Soiling? Co^vs— Will it Pay?— James 
Burgess, of Ontario C'n.. N. Y., has a small farm, iinJ 
wants to make tlie most of it, and to have as few interior 
fences as possible. He calls for the testimony of those 
eiperienced in soiling cows. We hope it may be given 
in detail. Our own experience has been irregular and 
only goes part way, consisting in cutting and feeding 
clover, lodged oats nearly ripe, also other grain, and corn 
s»wed for fodder, during some weeks, including most of 
July and August, for several seasons. The cows were 
kept up and had the range of a yard a few hours daily, 
and the fodder was cut so as to have at least some hours' 
sunning if practicable before feeding, being fed oc- 
casionally two or even three days after cutting. Tlie re- 
sults were very satisfactory, and we have seen fine dairy 
herds that never browsed grass in the field in their lives. 
Peat as Fuel.— On page 179 will be found 
an interesting article on this subject, in which, however, 
our correspondent in his enthusiasm is led into some in- 
accuiaciesof statement, especially in regard to the value 
of Dr. R— 's 15 acres of peat. The best uncondensed 
peat can hardly be estimated as worth more than good 
fire wood cord for cord, and peat shrinks in drying, so as 
to occupy but }4 to %' its original bulk. The richer the 
peat, the more it shrinks. Throughout the article the 
distinction between compressed and simply dried peat is 
much lost sight of, hence the statements are loose. This 
note should have followed the article in question. 
Xriclilna in Porlc au<il in Ne>vs» 
papers.— In the N, Y. Daily Times of Feb. 5th, 1864, 
tlieie appeared an account of the death of one person 
and the illness of three others, froin eating ham infested 
by Trichina spiralis, and the statements of the article 
fortified by the sworn testimony of several physicians. 
Tlie N. Y. Evening Post during the month of February, 
1866, quoted two articles from foreign journals giving ac- 
counts of "great consternaiion in Germany," and par- 
ticulars of the de-population of a German town by 
Trichina disease. On February I8th, 1866, the Chicago 
Sunday Times published an article with a displayed 
heading, reminding one of the dispatches after a great 
battle. Parts of this heading were: " Alarming Micro- 
scopic Revelations." " Terrible Fatality of the Disease," 
etc. The article was evideidly made up by a person not 
familiar with the subject, and contained, among other en- 
gravings, one of a full-grown Trichina, exiiudingits young 
alive from an orifice near its head. Then in the N. Y. 
Tribune of March 10, 1866, we have an elaborate article 
to which especial attention is called by an editorial in the 
same issue. This essay was a careful posting up of the 
subject, apparently by a foreigner, or at all events by 
one who ignored all American facts and writers. Aside 
from those above referred to, articles of minor import- 
ance, and containing truth and eiror in varying propor- 
tions appeared in the Agricultural and other papers. 
That such accounts should have an effect upon the 
public mind is not strange, and the readers of the ^^n- 
culttir/st began to present their requests that we should 
tell them the facts in the case. Last month we gave 
them a plain, unsensational account of the whole mat- 
ter, by a thoroughly competent physician. It was pre- 
sented as a collection of established scientific facts, with- 
out any reference to what its effect might be upon any 
business interest. It seems that the pork inteiest has 
been affected by these accounts, and interested parties 
are trying to make it appear that the whole thing is a 
humbug, and that there is no such thing as Trichina dis- 
ease. We know that the Trichina does exist, and we 
believe that it is best for people to know just what it is, 
rather than to have their fears excited by some partly un- 
deistood evil. Measly pork lias long been known, and is 
equally to be avoided with that containing Trichines, 
yet a writer who cautions people against that form of 
diseased meat, may do so witlunit suspicion of wishing to 
bring down the price of pork. From our article upon 
the subject we have nothing to retract, because it had no 
other object than to present facts ; but two of the daily 
papers seem to take a different view of their publications. 
The Daily Tribune of March 24th says : " It is pretty ev- 
ident that interesti'd parties have had much to do with 
the story of diseased pork." Which shall we believe, 
the Tribune of March 10th or March 24th, and which of 
its statements are "interested." — ? — The N. Y. Times 
of March *26th has an article, the chief characteristics of 
which are flippany and unfairness, the olyect of which is 
to turn the whole thing into ridicule. As the writer 
seems less desirous of giving the public facts than of 
helping the pork trade, we have only to say that the ham 
which produced the fat;d results so graphically described 
in the Times in 18G4, was an American ham. Ten cases 
of Trichina disease, one of which proved fatal, are 
recorded by medical authorities, as having taken place 
in N. Y. City, and tlie names oi the physicians under 
whose observation they occurreil, will be given to the 
Times' writer If he wishes lo verify our statement. This 
we deem sufiBcient warrant for the remark in our article 
of last month, that "the number of cases reported in tiiis 
country show that it exists here to an extent, which, 
though not to a degree to cause alarm, is sufficient to de- 
mand-attention." We have thus given the subject the 
"attention" our readers had a right to expect, and un- 
til some new developments appear, we may dismiss it. 
Xiclc Remedy for Sheep.— An ex- 
perienced English shepherd, after looking about our city 
markets, hands us the following : I see among the many 
sheep that come to market here, many that have loose 
tags of wool hanging from their coat. On examining 
them, I find them infested with ticks. This causes the 
sheep to bite themselves, which loosens small portions 
of the wool at the root, and contact of the sheep with 
one another rubs it out. There is an excellent remedy 
for this evil, which I have long used and will give: 
Sheep Dippino Composition. — For 100 sheep or lambs, 
take 3 lbs. of white arsenic pulverized, boil it well in 40 
or 50 quarts of soft water, with as much as 15 or 20 lbs. 
of soft soap. When well boiled and stirred together, add 
water enough to make the whole 200 quarts, which is two 
quarts for each sheep. — As soon as the sheep are sheared, 
the ticks will generally go upon the lambs, therefore it is 
important to dip the entire flock, and I can assure all flock- 
masters it will repay them tenfold. The best way to 
perform the dipping is to have a tub made for the pur- 
pose, about 5 feet long and 2,^ or 3 feet high ; let it be 
nariower at the bottom than at the top. Provide a lid 
that will fall back upon two stakes driven in the ground, 
and rest in a sloping position. On these lids there should 
be slats about ?4 of an inch square, nailed about two 
inches apart. One man takes the sheep by the head and 
fore legs, another by the hind legs, and they dip it into 
the tub which contains sufficient liquid to submerge the 
sheep. The head is carefully kept from going into the 
bath. Here the slieep is held for about half a minute, 
and it is then thrown out upon the lid, and rubbed back- 
ward and forward over the slats, and the locks of wool 
wrung, so that the liquid shall as far as possible drpin off 
and flow back into the tub. 
IVIcdical Advertisements — A Horrid 
Business I — On no rational ground, except that of 
sheer ignorance, can we explain the fact tliat many pro- 
fessedly religious journals, and others that claim to be 
respectable, continue to admit a certain class of medical 
advertisements. Some of these published in leading re- 
ligious papers even, covertly advertise the worst possible 
"private medicines." A subscriber, in a recent note to 
the Agriculturist, well remarks " that the medical 
quacks do not receive theirdue share of attention. Tlieie 
is probably no one thing so readily seized upon as the 
prospect of, or an off"eredrernedy for disease. The sufl^er- 
ing invalid, with his judgment impaired perhaps by dis- 
ease, becomes a ready dupe, and the moie terrible or 
probably incurable the disease, the more eagerly he 
swallows the bait." But passing by the general run of 
quack medicines, we refer now to a specific class. In a 
chance number of one of the most respectable N. Y. 
Dailies, or one so consideied, and patronized by a large 
class of respectable people, we find under the head of 
"Medical," half a column, or thirteen advertisements, 
of which at least ten are really of the worst possible 
character. For example, the first one is adtiressed to 
'■ Married or Single Ladies," professing to "remove all 
stoppages or irregularities, from ivkaffvrr cause,^' etc. 
(We only quote what is placed before your families every 
day in the year, in at least half the journals printed.) 
The 4th, 5th, Gth, 7th, 9tii, 11th, and 12tli advertisements, 
are of very similar ctiaracter. some more hittdcn in 
their expressions, but all indicating v\ hat they are aiming 
at. These cost for one insertion $19.00, and tiiere is an 
average of as many on each of 350 days in the year, or 
over $6, 500 a year paid tonne paper, with much huger 
sums paid to others. We name far less than the actual 
sum, when we say that $150)000 are paid yearly bv 
this single class of advertisers, for publicity alone. Of 
course they must have a targe patronage or they would 
not continue the advertising. What of their patrons ? 
One of two things. Many of them send useless medi- 
cines at enormous prices. Of course none of the 
purchasers expose themselves by exposing the .swin- 
dlers. But some of them at least do eend med- 
icines that attempt to effect what they propose. Tlie 
result is not only " the mu rder of the innocents," but, in 
almost all cases, of the mothers tiieniseives ; t)i if not 
producing direct death, they leave a sliatiered constitu- 
tion to drag out a miserable existence worse than death. 
Stung by guilt, the poor patient seldom betrays e\en to 
her companion if married, or to her most interested 
friends if not, the cause of her suffering. Let us say to 
all who put any faith in the statements of this class of 
murderers, for such they really are, that the pretences 
put forth for these medicines and operations, are false, 
as every good physician well knows. We regret that a 
regard for the feelingsof our readers, especially the youth, 
compels us not to speak more plainly. Thte much we 
could not lunge** refrain from saying. 
Xurning- tlie Xa1>les on niiin1>ii;>:s. 
— The course of sin, like that of true love, does not al- 
ways run smooth. To pass by the weightier matters of 
police inleiference, expenses, etc., they get some sharp 
letteis. A "soldiers widow," whom they tried to cheat 
by professions of great interest in her class, and the f>frer 
of a splendid prize on receiving barely $10, accepts their 
generous oflfer with many thanks, merely requesting 
them to retain the $10 out of the great sum to be sent 
her. — Some cute chaps at Port Deposite sent Hammond 
& Co. a bogus chec;k rather ingeniously but not very 
modestly signed, which the said H. «fc Co. accepted in 
good faith, and presented it for collection. Of course it 
w as returned to them with nearly $2 costs.— An *' official" 
out west received a very flattering offer of some thous- 
ands of dollars, on receipt of $10 for expenses, to which 
he responded as follows : 
Iowa State Agricultural Society, \ 
Secretary's Office, Fairfield. Iowa, March 1,1866. J 
Messrs. Fletcher Jf Co., &oj: 3753 P. O., New York Citij. 
My Deauly Beloved Friends : Your truly iiiagnifi- 
cent offer, couched in your truly refined epistle of Feb- 
ruary 23d, is just at hand. I congratulate myself that I 
have secured additional evidence of my theory of the 
doctrine of " disirderested benevolence." I thank the 
lucky fortune which has given you my address, and has 
enabled you lo fix upon myself as everyway qualified to 
aid you in your enterprise. You ceitainly must l^e Free- 
masons. Odd-feliows, Good Templars, and members of 
the Christian church. Your munificent benevolence al- 
most caused me to shed teais, especially at this time, 
when I need a new suit of clotlies, a new fence about 
my lot, a demijohn of whiskey, and my family needs— in 
one word — everything. You may send by draft on New 
York, which will be leadily cashed at oui' baidt here. 
Fifteen hundred dollars will be all that you need send 
now. The <lraft will be safer, than to send " greenbacks" 
by mail. Eveiybotly has a hankering afier greenbacks- 
postmasters not excepted. I apprehend, however, that 
no postmaster would steal any money from you, for they 
must all know r)f your astounding brnevolence. and 
would scorn lo interrupt any of the good ends which you 
have in process of accomplishment. I inwardly chuckle 
when I ttiink what a good jnke you wiU play on the Lot- 
tery Managers, when I receive the $1500 I I daie say 
they will appreciate it, and will be ready to make merry 
over it. Of comse " I irill show the motiey ;'* then won't 
my friends open their eyes in astonishment, and siand 
agape :it the recital of my good fortune r Won't every 
man in the neighborhood run after a similar chance, and 
won't we all be t ich ! You hit I But I can do more than 
"show the money." I can. if I choose, speak of your 
munificent liberality, in my Annual Rei^iit tm the condi- 
tion of agriculture. I can publish the name and locality 
of your firm, and millions will address you for a share in 
such good fortune. Afterwards, I can publi>h the list of 
lucky men— just before, or included in our Piemium 
Classes 18 and 19, (Jackasses and Mules.) Won't that be 
a big thing ? Send me the $15no, less the :=10 you ask nf 
me, and 3 cents for postage slanip to return this imsvier. 
I will "show I lie m<mey" when 1 get it, and show you up 
lo tiie best of my ability. I am no tiieari writer. Iiaving 
read Godfrey's Cordial, M'GufTey's 1st Render, and the 
book ihat tells how John Ropers had his stake burnt with 
one small children and lunc at the bieasl. You bet. I'm 
a scholar ! Patronize me. and brdieve me, vour*s fian- 
tically, ._. J. M. SHAFFER, Secretary." 
EiOtteries — IIo^v even a. Cremiine 
one Works.— Xho Aritlimetic of tUe Xliin*?. 
— Of the many venders of lottery tickets in this city, at 
least nine out of ten aie bocus, swindling concerns, in 
which the investors liave no chance at all. and a man 
must have uncommon discernment and discretion to as- 
certain which is tlie tenth or genuine one. — Gut suppos- 
ing all were genuine, let us see what chance a man 
would have in one. For example, take the " Koyal 
Havana Lottery," said to be honorably conducted "by 
the Spanish Government, under the supervision of the 
Captain General of Cuba." We calleil at the Agency in 
this city, and learned the entire ?iiotli(s oprramii. Take 
tlic drawing No. 75C. for May 9. There are 4.17 prizes 
ranging from one hundred and sixty of !f 200 e.ach, to one 
of $100,000. Total amount of Prizes, *36ll,ono in gokl— 
or equivalent to about $150,000 in oui" Currency. Tiie de- 
ductions before Die prizes are paid amount lo ]^'a Ij per 
cent., or say $60,000. This leaves $4iio.(ioo lo be dislrib- 
u*ed among the ticket huUlers. But there are just 30,000 
tickets at $40 each, which must all be drawn from : that 
is, the ticket holders pay $1,200,000 for the jivivilege ot 
drawing I-IOO.OOO, the other $800,000 all going to the lot- 
